Engine.



PATENTED NOV. 1, 1904.

R. M. SHAFFER.

ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.19, 1902.

2 BHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

No. 773,599. PATENTED NOV. 1, 1904.

R. M. SHAFFER.

ENGINE APPLICATION FILED AUG.19, 1902. N0 MODEL. ZSHEETS-SHBET 2.

7/////////////d ///////////////J7///////////7/Jz Q/vbmow PatentedNovember 1, 1904.

PATENT FFICEQ RICHARD M. SHAFFER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TOSHAFFER BOILER & ENGINE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A

CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 773,599, dated November1, 1904.

Application filed August 19, 1902. Serial No. 120,170. (No model.)

To 1 77 'm/mm/ it vmty concern.-

Be it known that I, RIcHARD M. SHAFFER, of Baltimore city, in the Stateof Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inEngines, of which the following is a complete specification, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings.

The object of my invention is to produce improvements in engines adaptedto be driven by steam or the like, and more especially with respect tothe valve mechanism thereof, whereby the bulk of the mechanicalstructure as a whole is reduced without diminishing the operativeefliciency of the machine.

By reason of the comparatively small size and weight of my machine orengine it is adapted especially for employment in selfpropellcd lightvehicles and in light pleasureboats, but may be employed for a varietyof uses in which engines of other types could be used.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I is a central verticallongitudinal section of an engine-cylinder equipped with my valvemechanism, the'piston and its rod being shown in elevation. Fig. II is atop plan view of both of the cylinders, of which one is shown in Fig. I,part of the steam-chest being illustrated and part broken away to showthe arrangement of the ports. Fig. III is a section on the line III IIIof Fig. I, both cylinders being illustrated, but with the pistons androds omitted. Fig. IV is a perspective view of one of the valvesdetached.

Referring to the numerals on the drawings, 1 (see particularly Fig. III)indicates one cylinder, and 2 the other. These cylinders have parallellongitudinal axes and are preferably incorporated in a single castingprovided with a flat top or table 3, which is properly finished to alevel or levels in order to constitute seats for a pair of valves t and5, respectively.

The table 3 is surrounded by a flange 7, against which, as by means ofan abutting flange 8 and a series of screw-bolts 9, the steam-chest 10is secured by a steam-tight joint.

The valves are identical in construction, as illustrated in detail inFig. IV, and each is provided at its opposite extremities with oblongboxes 11 and 11, whose faces 12 and 13, respectively, make a close fitagainst the valve-seat upon the table 3, upon which it reciprocates. Theportion of each valve which connects its respective boxes 11 and 11 iselevated above the table 3 for the admission of steam between" it andthe table, thereby affording relief of pressure upon the valve.

15 indicates a piston, and 16 its rod work-- ing in a stufiing-box 17through the cylinderhead 18.

In Fig. I, I illustrate the details of one of the cylinders, its piston,piston-rod, ports, and valves, and as both cylinders are substantiallyidentical the illustration of one suflices for the illustration of both.As shown in that figure, the cylinder is provided near its oppositeends, respectively, with oblong ports 20 and 21, which penetrate thewall of the cylinder and are in close juxtaposition to oblong recesses22 and 23, respectively, depressed below the surface of the table 3. Therecesses 22 and 23 respectively communicate with a common discharge-port24:, formed in the body of the casting, in which the cylinders 1 and 2are incorporated.

The valve 4 or 5, surmounting its respective cylinder, is of suchlongitudinal extent and is provided with boxes 11 and 11 of suchdimensions as to cover one of the ports 20 or 21 and both of therecesses 22 and 23 at the same time and is adapted in its reciprocatorymovement over its seat to constitute the ports 20 and 21 alternatelyinto supply and discharge ports, respectively. VVh'en the port 20, forexample, is constituted into a discharge-port, it makes its dischargeunderneath its box 11 through the recess 22 into the commondischarge-port 24:, and when the port 21 is constituted into thedischarge-port it makes its discharge into the same common dischargeportthrough the recess 23.

In order to provide for the reciprocal and reciprocatory operations ofthe valves 4: and 5, respectively, I provide a special and compactarrangement of mechanisms adapted for the purpose, whereby the actuationof the valves is adapted to be applied thereto between the path of thevalve and the cylinder. To that end within a shell 25, formed in thewall of the chest 10, Il prefer to provide a rock-shaft 26, supymrted atits inner end in a bearing 27, provided for it in the end of the shellNear the opposite end it is supported by a hollow rock-shaft 28, workingin a bushing 29, threaded into the end of the shell 25. The shaft 26 issecured, as by means of a pin 30, to a collar 31, and to the shaft 28 issecured, as by means of a pin 33, a collar 34. The shafts 26 and 28,respectively, being coaxial and disconnected are adapted to impartindependent movements to their respective collars 31 and 34. The meansof operatively uniting the said respective collars are preferablysubstantially identical in construction and include (compare Figs. 1 andIII) a lug 35, which works loosely in a slotted shaft 36, looselymounted in a pair of dependent lugs 37, depending from the valve, whichis provided with an aperture 38 for the accommodation of said lug.

39 indicates a chamber or depression in the table 3 for theaccommodation of the shaft 36 and its lugs 37. The sides of the chamber39 afford means for holding the shaft 36 in place when the partsdescribed are operatively assembled.

40 indicates a c 'ank secured, as by a pin 41, to the shaft 26, and 42indicates a crank secured, as by a pin 43, to the shaft 28. These cranksare adapted to impart the requisite throw to the valves 4 and 5,respectively, the timing and the length of the throws of the respectivevalves being determinable by the relative adjustments of the saidcranks, their shafts, and the collars 31 and 34 already specified.

Motion is adapted to be imparted to the respective cranks 40 and 42through the movement of the several pistons and rods with which in anyordinary or preferred manner (unnecessary to illustrate) the said cranksmay be opcratively connected.

The chest 10 is provided with threaded apertures 45, one being locatedabove each of the respective ports of the respective cylinders, fourbeing the number required in the form of embodiment of my inventionshown in the drawings.

In practice all but one of the apertures 45 are plugged, the oneconstituting the means of connection for the supply-pipe(notillustrated) and the engine. The office of the several apertures 45is to afford ready and convenient means for rendering the ends of eachof the valves t and 5 visible for the purpose of fixing the adjustmentsof the said valves with respect to their respective shafts and cranks.

In operation the adjustments of the valves 4 and 5 having been properlymade and a propulsive fluid under pressure having been admitted into thechest 10, motion is imparted first to one piston and then to the otherinalternately reciprocatory directions. Through the mechanism specified ahighly efiicient power may be developed and applied within theexceedingly simple, durable, and compact structure described, and shownin the drawings.

hat I claim is 1. The combination with a cylinder, its piston, rod,ports, and valve, of means for actuating the valve, said actuation beingapplied thereto by means of a slotted shaft working within a depressionin the cylinder.

2. The combination with a cylinder, its pis ton and rod, of a rock-shaftderiving motion from said piston, ports communicating with the interiorof said cylinder and with a discharge-port, a reciprocatory valvecontrolling said ports and deriving motion from the rockshaft, saidmotion being applied to the valve between the plane of the path of thevalve and a parallel plane cutting the cylinder.

3. The combination with a plurality of cylinders and theirrespective'pistons and rods, of rock-shafts deriving motion from saidpistons respectively, ports communicating with the interiors of therespective cylinders and with a common discharge-port, a plurality ofreciprocatory valves controlling the ports of the respective cylindersand deriving motion from the res pective rock-shafts, and means forapplying said actuation to the valves, respectively, between the planesof the paths of the valves and parallel planes cutting the cylinders.

41. The combination witha plurality of cylinders, their respectivepistons and rods, of coaxial rock-shafts deriving motion from saidpistons respectively, ports communicating with the interiors of therespective cylinders and with a common discharge-port, a plurality ofreciprocatory valves controlling the ports of the respective cylindersand deriving motion from the respective rock-shafts, and means forapplying said actuation to the valves between the planes of the paths ofthe valves and parallel planes cutting the cylinders, respectively.

5. The combination witha pair of cylinders, their respective pistons androds, of a steamchest, ports communicating between the interiors of therespective cylinders and the chest, and a common discharge-port, valvescontrolling the communication through said ports, rock-shafts derivingmotion from the respective pistons and communicating motion to therespective valves, and means for applying said actuation to the valvesbetween the planes of the paths of the valves and planes cutting thecylinders, respectively.

6. The combination with a plurality of cylinders incorporated in asingle casting, their 3 respective pistons and rods, a flat top or tablethereon, and a steam-chest surmounting the table, of ports communicatingwith the interiors of the respective cylinders and with a commondischarge-port, a plurality of valves controlling the ports of therespective cylinders, coaxial rock-shafts actuating the respectivevalves, deriving motion from the respective pistons, and means forapplying said actuation to the valves, respectively, between the pathsof the valves and the cylinders.

7. The combination with a plurality of cylinders incorporated in asingle casting, their respective pistons and rods, aflat top 'or tablethereon, and a steam-chest surmounting the table, of ports communicatingwith the in teriors of the respective cylinders and with a commondischarge-port, a plurality of valves controlling the ports of therespective cylinders, coaxial rock-shafts superimposed above the valvesfor actuating them respectively, and deriving motion from the respectivepistons, and means for applying said actuation to the valves,respectively, between the paths of the valves and the cylinders.

8. The combination with a plurality of cylinders, their respectivepistons, rods, ports and valves, of apertured dependent lugs on therespective valves, a slotted shaft loosely mounted in each pair of lugs,a piston-controlled rock-shaft superimposed above each valve, and a lugupon each rock-shaft Working in the aforesaid slotted shaft.

9. The combination with a plurality of cylinders, their respectivepistons, rods, ports and valves, of apertured dependent lugs on therespective valves, a slotted shaft loosely mounted in each pair of lugs,piston-controlled coaxial rock-shafts superimposed above the respectivevalves, and a lug upon each rockshaft working in the aforesaid slottedshaft.

10. The combination with a plurality of cylinders, pistons and rods, ofa steam-chest and shell, ports communicating between the interiors ofthe respective cylinders and the chest, and a common discharge-port,reciprocatory valves controlling the communication through said ports, apair of lugs upon the respective valves, a slotted shaft in each pair oflugs, rock-shafts deriving motion from the respective pistons, collarsupon the respective rockshafts and lugs upon the respective collarsengaging the respective slotted shafts.

11. The combination with a plurality of cylinders, piston, rods,reciprocatory valves adjustable means of actuating the valves, andports, of asteam-chest, apertures in the steamchest opposite to therespective ports, whereby the valves may be rendered visible foradjustment, and means of opening and closing said apertures as required.

In testimony of all which I have hereunto subscribed my name.

RICHARD M. S HAFFER.

Witnesses:

CuRTIs KING, HARRY PORTER.

